Over the past two decades, Maplewood has become one of the most interesting, food-filled neighborhoods in the St. Louis area. Thanks to the anchor of Schlafly Bottleworks and a historic downtown strip, the mid-county municipality is booming. Maplewood boasts everything from an experimental tasting room and a cat café to small-batch food shops and a community-minded butcher. Check out our favorite food-and-drink spots in Maplewood, Missouri.
Acero
Acero is a small restaurant, but it boasts one of the most celebrated dishes in St. Louis: the egg raviolo. The decadent dish features three cheeses, a farm-fresh egg, butternut squash and brown butter. Opt for the $58 four-course tasting menu – one of the best deals in town – and try the gnocco fritto with prosciutto (lovingly referred to as "meat donuts") or the chicken Milanese with lemon capers and melted leeks. Add a wine flight starting at $50, or go for the seven-course seasonal grand tasting menu for $90, featuring local proteins and produce. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Acero, 7266 Manchester Road, Maplewood, Missouri, 314.644.1790, fialafood.com
Boardwalk Waffles & Ice Cream
In its second iteration in Maplewood, Boardwalk Waffles & Ice Cream stays true to its name, serving up a bevy of flavors of ice cream between warm waffles. You can order waffle-ice cream sandwiches in whole, half or quarter servings, with a dusting of powdered sugar. We suggest the Cookie Monster, a blue ice cream with cookie dough and cookie crumbs. You can also head to the shop on weekends for a brunch full of waffles both savory and sweet. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Boardwalk Waffles & Ice Cream, 7376 Manchester Road, Maplewood, Missouri, 314.449.1209, boardwalkwaffles.com
Bolyard’s Meat & Provisions
Bolyard’s Meat & Provisions began as a simple neighborhood butchery, but has since bloomed into a tasty lunch option that also offers ready-to-eat dinners from the smoker. Owners Chris and Abbie Bolyard offer responsibly sourced meat, as well as specialty items like housemade ketchup, chicken liver mousse and bone broth. Stop by for a sandwich like the Pig Pen (pork char siu, gochujang mayo and sweet and sour cabbage on a Companion peacemaker roll) or the Bolyard's smash burger (two 3-ounce patties, local cheddar, bread and butter pickles and garlic mustard aïoli on a Companion bun). (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Bolyard’s Meat & Provisions, 2733 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, Missouri, 314.647.2567, bolyardsmeat.com
Casa Maya
Taking over the space previously filled by Maya Cafe, Casa Maya offers a diverse menu of Mexican fare. Specialties include the Desoto Steak (a 14-ounce rib eye with bacon, onion, mushrooms and cheese sauce) and the chile verde with your choice of chicken, beef or pork tips. Vegetarians will find plenty to love at Casa Maya, as well – the chile poblano pepper dinner includes two cheese-stuffed, deep-fried poblanos covered with red sauce and served with rice and beans. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Casa Maya, 2726 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, Missouri, 314.282.0408, casamayastl.com
Elmwood
Since it debuted in 2019, Elmwood has quickly become one of Maplewood's most popular restaurants. Niche Food Group alums Adam Altnether and Chris Kelling serve modern American cuisine prepared in an "aquarium-style" kitchen that guests can look into through glass windows. Each dish features some flame-kissed element from the charcoal-burning grill – think crudités with charred sweet potato dip (pictured here) or a dry-aged rib eye platter served with grilled broccoli. From the bar, expect to see thoughtful house cocktails, including low-proof and alcohol-free options, as well as draft and bottled beers and wines. Currently, the restaurant is temporarily closed with plans to reopen. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Elmwood, 2704 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, Missouri, elmwoodstl.com
Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken
The fried chicken boom hit St. Louis a few years ago, with the iconic Memphis-based Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken opening a local outpost in Maplewood. Hype was so big that the restaurant ran out of food during its second day in business, forcing a midday closure to restock and prep. The hot chicken gets its signature kick from paprika and cayenne pepper, and is available as plates, individual pieces, snacks and specials. Round out your meal with classic sides like fried okra, mac 'n' cheese, potato salad or fried green tomatoes. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, 7434 Manchester Road, Maplewood, Missouri, 314.899.9899, gusfriedchicken.com
Kakao Chocolate
Kakao Chocolate moved production to the five-year-old Maplewood shop in 2016 after closing its original South City location. That means staff hand-dip confections behind the counter while you watch. Owner Brian Pelletier’s bestseller is the simple sea-salt caramel, made with all-natural sugar, fresh cream, vanilla bean, butter and Kakao’s house chocolate blend, topped with flaky sea salt. Other items include marshmallow pies, peanut brittle, truffles and chocolate bark. For the holidays, Kakao also has Advent calendars, peppermint-chocolate spoons and limited-edition items like bonbons with white chocolate, limoncello and Sea Island white-flint corn grits. (Photo by Cheryl Waller)
Kakao Chocolate, 7272 Manchester Road, Maplewood, Missouri, 314.645.4446, kakaochocolate.com
Living Room
With coffee roasted in-house and baked goods made from scratch each day, Living Room is the perfect place to start your day, and the café's expanded digs only make it more enticing. The coffee shop serves an expansive menu including lattes, cortados, cold brew, pour overs and signature drinks like the salted-honey latte or Sunrise, made with orange juice and espresso. In addition to freshly baked pastries, you'll also find a full breakfast and lunch menu including a cheesy scone with bacon and eggs, a Buffalo cauliflower sandwich and a falafel wrap. (Photo courtesy of Living Room)
Living Room, 2810 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, Missouri, 314.899.0173, livingroomstl.com
Maplewood Deli & Coffeehouse
Maplewood Deli & Coffeehouse, formerly Foundation Grounds, is a whole lot more than a coffee shop. In addition to a full coffee menu and fresh juices, the longtime neighborhood staple also offers a robust breakfast and lunch menu with an emphasis on local, sustainable ingredients. The breakfast menu is available all day and includes favorites like a rotating quiche made with local farm eggs and the vegetarian Bucko Burrito stuffed with refried beans, eggs, bell peppers and melted Cheddar. (Photo by J. Pollack Photography)
Maplewood Deli & Coffeehouse, 7298 Manchester Road, Maplewood, Missouri, 314.833.6460, foundationgrounds.com
Mauhaus Cat Cafe and Lounge
St. Louis' very first cat café arrived in November 2016 with the opening of Mauhaus Cat Cafe & Lounge. The owners were inspired by similar concepts in Thailand and raised the funds to open Mauhaus on Kickstarter – proving that St. Louisans were more than ready for the idea. Guests can grab a cappuccino and enjoy the company of a few cats, all of which are adoptable through Stray Haven Rescue. Walk-ins are allowed, but reservations are recommended. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Mauhaus Cat Cafe and Lounge, 3101 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, Missouri, 314.384.2287, mauhauscafe.com
Pizza Champ
Helmed by the team from nearby Elmwood, Pizza Champ opened in early 2022, serving a mix of classic and innovative pizzas. Try the grilled kale and ricotta pie with preserved lemon, garlic and chile flake or the Buffalo fried chicken pizza with celery and blue cheese. Other menu options include a chicken Parm sub, wings and a grilled broccoli Caesar salad. (Photo by Sarah Conroy)
Pizza Champ, 2657 Lyle Ave., Maplewood, Missouri, pizzachampstl.com
Robata
Robata introduced Maplewood to traditional Japanese ramen when it opened in September 2015. The concept comes from Thom Chantarasy, who owned Sekisui, and still serves a wide variety of sushi. But Robata has also added yakitori (Japanese skewers made with grilled chicken, beef, pork or vegetables) and create-your-own ramen as well as appetizers like spring rolls, fried octopus dumplings and tuna carpaccio to round out the menu. (Photo courtesy of Robatat)
Robata, 7260 Manchester Road, Maplewood, Missouri, 314.899.9595, robatamaplewood.com
Schlafly Bottleworks
Schlafly Beer’s second location opened in 2003 and has been a neighborhood anchor ever since. The 23,000-square-foot brewery includes a taproom, dining room and expansive patio. During the warmer months, it also hosts the weekly Maplewood Farmers’ Market. At the brewpub, seasonal and local – and sometimes grown on-site – ingredients are the star of a thoughtful, beer-friendly menu. After more than two decades in business, Schlafly is still growing its brewing portfolio; try one of the experimental Ibex series, like gooseberry Gose or single-malt Scottish ale along with your spicy chicken wings. (Photo by Jacklyn Meyer)
Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave., Maplewood, Missouri, 314.241.2337, schlafly.com
Side Project Brewing and Cellar
Side Project operates not one but two spaces in Maplewood: Side Project Cellar opened first on Marietta Ave., with Side Project Brewing following just down the street on Manchester in the winter of 2016. The Cellar is a tasting room only and has won fans for its robust selection of Side Project’s saisons, barrel-aged stouts, barleywines and Belgian quads as well as whiskeys and wine; it was named a semifinalist for Outstanding Bar Program by the James Beard Foundation in 2016. The brewery itself also boasts a small tasting room with 11 Side Project and Shared taps, with the added bonus of being able to peek in on the brewers at work through a large window. (Photo by Jonathan Gayman)
Side Project Brewing, 7458 Manchester Road, Maplewood, Missouri, sideprojectbrewing.com
Side Project Cellar, 7373 Marietta Ave., Maplewood, Missouri, 314.224.5211, sideprojectbrewing.com
Southwest Diner
Southwest Diner has been serving up New Mexico-inspired fare since 2012. Come in for a hearty breakfast or lunch Friday through Monday. Jonathan's Famous Fiery Scramble – spicy, cheesy, scrambled eggs over home fries – is a must-try, as are the Grits on Fire (cheesy, stone-ground grits topped with carne adovada, red chile, corn, eggs and queso fresco). The restaurant also offers an inventive take on St. Louis' beloved slinger. (Photo by Judd Demaline)
Southwest Diner, 680 Southwest Ave., Ellendale, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.260.7244, southwestdinerstl.com
Strange Donuts
Strange Donuts made its name at its original Maplewood location with “Strangers,” crazy collaborations with local restaurants like a chicken and waffles donut sandwich with Grace Meat + Three, or a Fuji-fried caramel apple donut with Eckert’s Farms. The classic cake donuts are always available too, plus seasonal favorites like pumpkin spice or salted caramel. (Photo by Cheryl Waller)
Strange Donuts, 2709 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, Missouri, 314.932.5851, strangedonuts.com
Tapped
At Tapped, you can be your own bartender. The bar and restaurant operates a self-pour system with 48 taps, in which guests can pour their own beer (and sample as much or as little as they like). The selection is a dream for local craft beer fans, offering a constantly evolving list of brews from the likes of 4 Hands Brewing Co., Crane Brewing Co., Destihl Brewing and Earthbound Beer. Pair your beer with the shareable roasted bacon Brussels sprouts or a Margherita pizza – the owners also inherited A Pizza Story's wood-burning oven and recipes with the space. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Tapped, 7278 Manchester Road, Maplewood, Missouri, 314.899.0011, tappedstl.com
Thai Table
Chef-owner Natthinee “Joy” Teerakawanid started her northeastern Thai restaurant after noticing a lack of Thai food in Maplewood. Thanks to her, you can now find some of those regional dishes in the neighborhood, like the lab kai (ground chicken tossed in a spicy lime dressing with ground tossed rice, red onions and cilantro) and the tom zabb soup (hot and spicy soup with galangal, makrut lime leaf, lemongrass, lime juice, mushroom and Thai basil, served in a hot pot). Want something sweet to end the meal? Thai Table also offers sticky rice with Thai-style egg custard and a fried banana dish. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Thai Table, 7403 Manchester Road, Maplewood, Missouri, 314.449.6919, thaitablestl.com
The Benevolent King
Ben Poremba's The Benevolent King blends Jewish-Moroccan traditions with Israeli and French influences to create a unique dining experience. Menu highlights include the citrus-cured salmon with labneh, tomato and smoked trout roe and the lamb meatballs with smoked tomato sauce and ras el hanout. The friendly servers can help you choose the perfect pairing from the restaurant's extensive wine list. (Photo by Jacklyn Meyer)
The Benevolent King, 7268 Manchester Road, Maplewood, Missouri, thebenevolentking.com
The Blue Duck
This Washington, Missouri, import opened in part of the former Monarch space in 2016. The mid-Missouri favorite brought many of its signature dishes to town, like the DLT, with cured and smoked duck breast, lettuce, tomato, a fried egg and honey-chipotle mayo on sourdough. The cocktail menu shouldn’t be missed; try specials like the Aww, Kenny! with bourbon, coconut, passionfruit, sweet vermouth and grapefruit bitters or the Chocolate Raspberry Negroni. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
The Blue Duck, 2661 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, Missouri, blueduckstl.com
The Crow's Nest
The Crow's Nest is a longtime neighborhood favorite perhaps best known for a rather unique tradition: Metal Brunch. Held every Saturday and Sunday, brunch is served to the tune of Metallica, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and the like, and features dishes that will help put even the worst hangover to bed. Choose from comforting dishes like fried chicken and waffles, a slinger with Gouda-jalapeño cheese sauce or deep-fried deviled eggs. In true St. Louis fashion, the Staggerleemosa combines Champagne, orange juice and Stag beer. (Photo by J. Pollack Photography)
The Crow's Nest, 7336 Manchester Road, Maplewood, Missouri, 314.781.0989, eatcrowstl.com
The Post Sports Bar & Grill
The Post Sports Bar & Grill is a great place to enjoy happy hour, watch a game or play bar trivia with your friends. The menu includes a variety of cheesesteaks from a French onion version with Brie and balsamic onion jam to a taco cheesesteak with salsa and shredded lettuce. There are also plenty of local and international beers to choose from. (Photo courtesy of The Post Sports Bar & Grill)
The Post Sports Bar & Grill, 7372 Manchester Road, Maplewood, Missouri, 314.645.1109, thepostsportsbar.com
Tiffany's Original Diner
Tiffany’s Original Diner has seen a lot of changes since its days as Morgan’s, a small greasy spoon. But the restaurant still serves a robust menu of classic diner fare like country-fried steak, biscuits and gravy, hamburgers and chili dogs. The most popular item, though, is the St. Louis slinger. At Tiffany’s, it’s a massive plate of hash browns, a choice of meat (bacon, sausage, hamburger or ham), eggs and housemade chili with a side of toast. For something a little different, try the restaurant’s two spins on the dish: the Toby, with sausage gravy, or the Yin Yang, with half chili and half gravy. (Photo by Jacklyn Meyer)
Tiffany's Original Diner, 7402 Manchester Road, Maplewood, Missouri, 314.644.0929, tiffanysdiner.com
Yummi Tummi
Yummi Tummi, formerly Toasty Subs, combines a sandwich shop and sushi spot in one. On the sandwich end, diners can create their own or choose from options like an Italian combo, meatball sub or tuna sub. If you'd rather opt for sushi, around a dozen rolls are made to order, including a tiger roll with imitation crabmeat and eel, topped with avocado, eel, masago and spicy mayo, and a tempura-fried Philly roll with salmon, cream cheese and sesame seeds. It's certainly one of the neighborhood's most unique menus. (Photo by Mabel Suen)
Yummi Tummi, 3001 S. Big Bend Blvd., Maplewood, Missouri, 314.833.3277, yummitummimo.com